From left: Miss Earth Fire (3rd runner up) Miss Brazil Camila Brant; Miss Earth 2012 Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova; Miss Earth Air (1st runner up) Stephany Dianne Stefanowitz; and Miss Earth Water (2nd runner up) Miss Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos. All photos by Manman Dejeto

MANILA, Philippines - The Rappler team arrived at Versailles Palace in Alabang on November 24 at 5pm, 3 hours before the Miss Earth 2012 pageant was scheduled to start (the Miss Earth website said it was at 6pm and we wanted to set up and find our spot an hour before).

We found the candidates still rehearsing, and even sat with them while they waited for the final instructions pre-pageant. I couldn't help but hear their conversation; they were talking about their families, what they did back home and how excited they were to go home.

Beautiful women with substance, I thought. They were all friends, too; they were telling each other what they liked about each other's performances in the almost-month-long activities leading to that night. It was easy to tell that they meant what they said.

The program was directed by Johnny Manahan of ABS-CBN. Hosts were Marc Nelson and 2009 Miss Earth Air Sandra Seifert; co-host was Ginger Conejero. Singer and TV personality Billy Crawford did one number.

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova won the title.

The other winners are:

• 3rd runner up - Miss Brazil Camila Brant
• 2nd runner up - Miss Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos
• 1st runner up - Miss Philippines Stephany Dianne Stefanowitz

Here are Rappler's photos:

The lively opening number and Parade of Nations

The candidates' energy was high

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova had no idea she was going home a winner later that night

The wind was strong and chilly, but the candidates didn't mind

Miss Brazil Camila Brant

Miss Costa Rica Fabiana Granados

Miss Japan Megumi Noda

Miss Korea Sara Kim

Miss Mexico Lourdes Paola Aguilar

Miss Nepal Nagma Shrestha

Miss Philippines Stephany Stefanowitz

Miss Poland Justyna Rajczyk

Miss Russia Natalia Pereverzeva

Miss Scotland Sara Pender

Miss South Africa Tamerin Jardine

Miss Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos

Hosts Marc Nelson and Sandra Seifert

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova

Miss Brazil Camila Brant

Miss Philippines Stephany Stefanowitz

Awaiting the announcement of the top 8

Miss Philippines Stephany Stefanowitz in the evening gown competition

Miss Nepal Nagma Shrestha

Miss Russia Natalia Pereverzeva

Miss Venezuela Osmariel Villalobos

Miss USA Siria Bojorquez

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova

Miss South Africa Tamerin Jardine

Miss Brazil Camila Brant

The top 4 exchange hugs

Versailles Palace was a refreshing backdrop for the Miss Earth pageant

Miss Brazil listens to the question: What would you consider is your defining moment as a woman?

Venezuela was about working hard, reaching her goals, fulfilling her responsibilities

Philippines was about being a woman of the Earth who fights to conserve and preserve the environment

Czech Republic admitted that she didn't understand the question. Instead, she gave a message: protecting and respecting Mother Earth is everyone's duty.

Miss Czech Republic and Miss Philippines talked while waiting for the announcement of winners

After the first two titles were announced, it boiled down to Miss Philippines and Miss Czech Republic

The two hugged after the winner was announced

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Fajksova after being declared Miss Earth 2012

Miss Czech Republic held on to her crown to keep it from falling off because of the wind

The Miss Earth 2012 winners

Check out our blow by blow updates and behind the scenes pics at our Miss Earth 2012 live blog.

- Rappler.com